National Republican., 1887-02-24
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.
ELL TO CREATE A NEW EXECUTIVE
DEPARTMENT PASSED.
Ditto, the Fisheries Retaliatory Bill
a Pension Bill Passed Over n Veto
by the President-Ocean Mail Appro-
priation Discussed.

ern judicial districts Of Texas.
Mr.. Vest moved, as substitute for IL,
the bill to establish United States court in
the Indian territory. He explained that the
Texas bill represented one system, and the
amendment which he offered represented
an opposite system. The Texas bill pro-
posed TO cut of portion Of the Indian
territory and to attach It, for judicial pur
poses, to the northern district Of Texas-in
other words to continue the system Of
cutting of slices OF the Indian territory and
attaching them to outside courts.
Indians were dragged out Of their terri
tory $50 miles and were tried and hanged
by the half dozen after being Kept In o Jail
that was disgrace to civilization. The
bill which he offered as a substitute, and
which had been carefully prepared by tho
judiciary committee, did away with these
outside courts, SO far as the Indian territory
was concerned, and established a court at
Muscogee, In the center OF the Indian ter
ritory, with Judge, marshal, clerk, aud all
the machinery inside OF the territory itself.
1t opened wide the door to oil the bene6
cent results OF civilization in Its highest
and best sense.
Mr.. Maxey defended the Texas bill,
which, he had no doubt, was in the direct
interest Of humanity, Of the Indians, and
OF the white people. 1t involved no new
theory. It left to the western district OF
Arkansas so much OF the Indian territory
Ne would give the court Of that district
reasonable amount Of work to do.
The discussion continued till 9 o'clock,
when Il was laid aside, and the ''unfnished
business" was announced, being the bill to
create the department OF agriculture and
labor.
Mr.. Jones, OF Arkansas, made an argu-
ment in support Of that bill.
The several amendments reported by the
Senate committee on agriculture to the
providing for the transfer Of the signal
service bureau to the department OF agri-
culture and labor. That led to discussion.
Mr.. Morgan moved to amend the amend
ment by limiting 1t to "the weather service"
Of the signal service bureau. Agreed to.
The section was further amended (on mo-
tion OF Mr.. Allison) by including In the
''subordinate force" the second lieutenants
now in the service Of the bureau, and by
providing that the compensation now paid
to the employees and enlisted men shall con-
tinue as now.
Mr.. Hale urged the necessity of more ma
ture consideration before making the pro-
posed transfer.
Mr.. Dawes suggested the postponement
Of the transfer until December, letting the
head Of the bureau report to the next Con-
gress plan for the transfer.
Mr.. Harrison inquired Of Mr.. Morgan
what would be left Of the signal service of
the army II the transfer were made.
Mr.. Morgan replied that there would be
nothing left Of 1t except the chief-a briga-
dier general-and sixteen lieutenants who
belonged to the army but were not assigned
to regiments.
Mr.-Harrison. Then the chief signal
officer and the sixteen lieutenants are not
TO be transferredp
Mr.. Morgan. The amendment provides
that the service shall go on until the Presi-
cent appoints a chief Of the bureau.
Mr.. Miller. The transfer does not at all
affect the signal service corps Of the army.
Mr.. Harrison. l approve the suggestion
Of the senator from Maine (Mr. Hale).
think It would be best to have the matter
looked over and considered, first by the
committee on military affairs and afterwards
by the committee on agriculture, and that
the two committees shall report a complete
and wise distribution Of the duties and per.
sonnel Of this non-homogeneous bureau.
Mr.. Miller argued In favor of the section
as reported by the committee on agricul
ture. He admitted that there might be
difficulties encountered In the transfer, bui
coming these difficulties except by meeting
them.
Mr.. Teller inquired what would become
of the chief signal officer If the transfer
were made.
Mr.. Miller said he proposed to offer ar
amendment that the chief signal officer ol
the army, In addition to his strictly mill
tary duties, may be assigned TO the charge
OF the weather bureau.
Mr.. Teller. Then, what becomes Of him
Mr.. Miller. He retains his rank and po
sition as chief signal officer of the army.
Mr.. Teller. What will be his duties then
Mr.. Miller. What they have always beer
since the office was first created, excep
that he will not be in charge of the weather
bureau.
Mr.. Beck said that he was not opposed
to the experiment of creating department
Of agriculture. But he would transfer Il
1t all matters relating to internal commerce
rivers and harbors, railroad commission
&. internal statistics, and education, as we'll Al
labor. He would dignity it so that !,
would be department In fact, as well a!
In name. But he had very great doubt
about the transfer Of the signal servic,
bureau, SO as to avoid trouble. He was II
favor Of the principle Of the transfer, bu
he greatly feared that the section could no
be SO amended now as to do 1t we'll.
Finally the vote was taken on the section
transferring the weather service Of the sig
nal service bureau (as amended), and 1t wa
agreed to-yeas 81, nays 10.
The bill was then passed without division
and conference was asked.
A synopsis of the bill as passed by tn
Senate is published elsewhere In the Ma
TioNAL REPUBLICAN,
The Senate then, on motion Of Mr.. Mil
Ter, took up the pleuro-pneumonia bill.
Mr.. MCPHERSON moved to postpone 1
until to-day, and to proceed to the consid
Grafton OF the House Joint resolution for a
investigation Of the Pacific railroads.
The motion was defeated-yeas 27, nay
81.
A motion by Mr.. Evarts to reconsider tn,
vote by which a bill was passed on Tuesda,
for Judicial determination of the rights o
citizens Of the United States in certail
railroad lands In Florida, was, after discus
sion, voted down.
Mr. Hoar gave notice that he will to-da,
ask the Senate to assign time (probably
O'Clock on Friday for considering the Pa
ciiie railroad inquiry bill.
Mr.. Frye made an affecting appeal to Tn
Senate to take up and consider a messag
from the President vetoing bill tina
would allow arrearages OF pension to Thos
S. Hopkins, Maine volunteers. He describe,
the case as a remarkably exceptional one
There were, he said, living on farn
in Maine in 1861 two boys on
90. The elder had Just been married. Th
war broke out Full of the inspiration o.
patriotism there was a controversy between
Them as TO which should enlist Finally |
was decided that the younger boy should
start first. He enlisted, In two month
the elder boy enlisted and was killed. Tn,
younger went to the front and remained
there sixteen months. Then he was stricken
with nervous disease and was trausferre'
TO the invalid corps, In which, he remained
till the close OF the war. lie had no physi
cal strength to work on the farm and he re
turned TO Washington, where he was ap
pointed clerk in the Treasury Department
He was there six years, was twice promoted
and was offered the chief clerkship a
$500 year. But, iu the meantime
he had studied law and had passed his ex
animation; and he declined the preferment
resigned his place In the treasury, and CON